Publication details of Stephen Harper’s long-awaited hockey book are expected to be announced imminently, likely on Thursday, according to a source close to the deal.

Thursday? You mean today?

Oh, but who could take Ms Lederman seriously? After all, her anemic story – 123-words in length – refers to the book, which the PM has been going on about since 2005, as an "open secret". Then we have the matter of the publisher. Ms Lederman describes this as being "kept under careful wraps", but it's been two full weeks since Stephen Maher broke the story that Simon & Schuster had won the rights. Finally, there's this: "Mr. Harper is a serious hockey fan – a member of the Society for International Hockey Research – and can often be seen attending NHL games."

Oh, for goodness sake. How many times must I address this issue? Look, it's far more difficult to join Costco than it is the Society for International Hockey Research. Much more expensive, too.

The eyes did roll, but Ms Lederman turned out to be right. Short hours later, Simon & Schuster announced a November pub date for the long-awaited tome. We learned also that there's still no title for Mr Harper's book. Roy MacGregor's name was mentioned for the first time, to no one's surprise – he's been providing our PM with "editorial services". No mention of Greg Stoicoiu... or, for that matter, George Pepki.

I do hear you. And I do recognize they aren't for everyone. Lord knows what readers overseas think. It's just that after nearly nine years on the trail of this story, I'm not about to drop it as the conclusion draws near.

And six posts in four years... that isn't too much, is it? (I ask realizing that the last have been only two weeks apart.)

There's sure to be at least one more, I suppose. But before that - much before that - more Tedd Steele, Arthur Stringer and who knows what.

Just came across your article Brian. I would like to note that I had applies for emergency assistance under the military families fund, from which the proceeds are going. Unfortunately, me and the other affected members were all denied as the denied entitlements were greater than their $5,000 limit. As such, since 5K was not enough to resolve the issue and paint a rosy picture, they were denied. I support the military families fund, however it will not assist those denied relocation entitlements such as the Home Equity Assistance.

It's an honour to have you comment here, Major Brauer. I'm greatly ashamed - but sadly not surprised - to learn that further support has not been forthcoming. I know I'm far from alone in wishing you the best in court.

Thank you Brian. I enjoy your column. If you are interested in developments in this story, we have begun fundraising for the legal battle and a federal announcement on the Home Equity Assistance will be made the morning of 27 May, 2013. Stay tuned...

About Me

A writer, ghostwriter, écrivain public, literary historian and bibliophile, I'm the author of Character Parts: Who's Really Who in CanLit (Knopf, 2003), and A Gentleman of Pleasure: One Life of John Glassco, Poet, Translator, Memoirist and Pornographer (McGill-Queen's, 2011; shortlisted for the Gabrielle Roy Prize). I've edited over a dozen books, including The Heart Accepts It All: Selected Letters of John Glassco (Véhicule, 2013) and George Fetherling's The Writing Life: Journals 1975-2005 (McGill-Queen's, 2013). I currently serve as series editor for Ricochet Books and am a contributing editor for Canadian Notes & Queries. My latest book is The Dusty Bookcase (Biblioasis, 2017), a collection of revised and expanded reviews first published here and elsewhere.